Spring support device



Sept. 15, v1964 L. S. SUOZZO SPRING SUPPORT DEVICE Filed July 22, 1963FlGfl 4 48 2o \2| Is/ l I7 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. LEONARD S. SU OZZO United States Patent O 3,148,870 SPRINGSUPPGRT DEVICE lLeonard S. Suozzo, 366 Maple Hill Drive, Hackensack, NJ.Filed iuy 22, 1953, Ser. No. 296,636 l Claims. (Cl. 267-1) Thisinvention relates to the art of supports and, more particularly, to -aspring device for supporting piping and similar loads that are subjectedto generally vertical movement in use. The invention pertains, in one ofits more specific aspects, to .a variable spring support device havingimproved and simpliied means for readily and conveniently converting thedevice into a rigid support unit for hydrostatic test `and `otherpurposes and for reconverting the device into la yielding support, asdesired.

The present invention may be employed in various locales. It isespecially useful in power plants and other places for supporting pipingwhile permitting movement of the piping as a result of expansion orcontraction thereof due to temperature changes in the material of thepiping.

Variable spring supports have been used for many years to support pipingloads. Such devices usually comprise `a housing having lower and upperwalls and side walls extending between and secured to the lower andupper walls. Positioned within the housing is a movable spring backingplate that is connected to a load rod which extends through the lowerwall. A compression spring is positioned between and engages the lowerhousing wall and the backing plate.

It is frequently desirable to precompress thev spring and temporarilysecure the backing plate against movement in either direction away fromits` designed cold load position at the time the device is assembled andprior to installation. This facilitates installation and reduces thepossibility of subjecting the device to excessive overloading at thetime of installation'.

It is known to the art to secure the backing plate, with the spring inprecompressed condition, with the aid of: n

various arrangements. One such `arrangement contemplates axing a pair ofnuts to and above the backing plate and engaging the nuts by means ofcorresponding bolts which extend through openings in the housing sidewall. This arrangement is unsatisfactory and objectionable for severalreasons: rstly, it is usually tedious and time-consuming to align thebolts with the taps in the nuts; secondly, the nuts, by virtue of theirprojecting above the movable plate, necessitate increasing the height ofthe device, thereby calling for taller devices and consuming valuableheadroom which is frequently very limited; thirdly, the arrangement doesnot in any Way indicate whether the loading on the device, afterinstallation and prior to removal of the bolts, is in balance,overloaded or underloaded; fourthly, tools are required in applying thebolts tothe device at the time of assembly and in removing the boltsfrom the device Aat'ther timeV of installation; and iifthly,`the boltsconstitute hazards which may result in damage to equipment or injury toworkmen vat the time they are removed from the device, depending onwhether the device is underloaded or over,- loads. i

The spring support device of this invention successfully overcomes theabove-mentioned objections in that it includes improved and simplifiedmeans for readily and conveniently converting the device into a rigidsupport at any time prior to installation and into a yyielding supportat the time of installation. In accordance with the present invention,the `spring backing plate is preferably formed with a pair ofcircumferentially spaced blind openings which extend inwardly from itsSdi-8,87@ Patented Sept. l5., i964 periphery. Each blind opening isadapted to receive a corresponding pin connector which extends through acorresponding opening in the side wall of the housing. The openings inthe backing plate and in the side wall of the housing are larger thanthe cross sectional areas of corresponding pins, thereby facilitatinginsertion and removal of the pins, as desired, without the use of toolsand without increasing the height of the device to accommodateadditional internal parts. Also, the parts of the device are soconligured and arranged that the exposed portions of the pins, i.e. theportions thereof exterior the housing, serve as Visual indicators, atthe time of installation and prior to removal, of whether the device isoverloaded, underloaded or substantially in balance with the load. Y

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a spring supportdevice with improved `and simplified means for readily and convenientlyconverting the device into a rigid support and for reconverting thedevice into a yielding support, las desired.

Another object of this invention is to provide a spring support device,having `a movable backing plate, with removable connector means formaintaining the backing plate'in a selected, substantially Xed positionrelative to other parts, the connector means being so con- .Nice

structed and arranged as to indicate visually whetherA the device isoverloaded, underloaded or substantially in balance with a load carriedby the device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a means of thecharacter indicated whichis simple and compact in design; which isreasonable in manufacturing cost; which maybe readily placed into yandout of active service, without the use of tools; and which is adapted toperform its intended functions in a dependable manner.

The enumerated objects and other objects, together with the advantagesof this invention, ywill berreadily understood by persons trained in theart from the following detailed description and the annexed drawingwhich respectively describe and illustrate -a recommended form ofvspring support device of this invention.

In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals denote correspondingparts throughout the several views:

FIG. lis -a view in elevation of a spring support device vconstructed invaccord-ance with this invention, partly broken away and partly in crosssection for better illustration; .n

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2 2 of FlG. l. Y FIG. 3 `is a viewtaken kalong line 3-3 of FIG. l2 and illustrates thev relative positionof certain parts when a load is evenly supported bythe spring supportdevice, i.e.,

, theload andthe force lexerted by the device are in bal-` indicated at18 and 19.' Sidewall 16 has a through open-y ance; f l

FIG."4 corresponds to FIG. 3 and illustrates the relative position ofthe parts when a load is oversupported by the 'spring support device;and .p

FIG. 5 also corresponds to FIG. 3 and illustrates theV relative positionof the parts when a load is undersupported by thespring support device.

e l,Referring initially to FIGS,'1 and 2 ofthedrawing, 'ai

housing, which is generally denoted by numeral l0, in-

cludes Vcircular and parallelV lower and upper walls 1l and n 1.2,'respectively. The lower wall ,has a circular, central,v

ing 20 (FIG. 3) which is adjacent space 18 and side wall 17 has a likeopening 21k which is adjacent space 19.

Openings 20 and 21are preferably diametrically opposite eachl other andare equidistant from the housing'lower' wall. Theseopenings arepreferably circular in the intery est of manufacturing economy but may,if desired, be oval, square or any other suitable configuration. Sidewall 16 is welded to the lower and upper walls, as indicated at 16a and16h, respectively, while side wall 17 is similarly Welded to the lowerand upper walls, as indicated at 17a and 17b, respectively, to obtain asturdy and durable housing construction. As is best shown in FIG. 2, theside walls are arcuate in transverse cross section.

An indicator plate 22 is mounted along a vertical edge of side wall 17by means of screws 23. This plate is provided with a scale having aseries of graduations 24 for indicating the weight of the load carriedby the device and/ or the distance traveled by the load. l

Housing 10 is equipped with an eye bolt 25 which engages the threads oftap 15 and which is provided with a lock nut 26. It desired, the eyebolt may be permanently secured to the housing upper wall by a weldment27. Eye bolt 2S serves as a means for suspending the housing and theparts carried thereby from an overhead structural member, such as abuilding beam (not shown).

Positioned within the housing is a spring backing plate 30. This plateis in the form of a dish, having a central through opening 31 and formedwith a continuous llange 32. Integral with flange 32 is a lateralextension 33 which projects into space 18 and which is formed with abeveled edge portion 34 that constitutes an indicator which cooperateswith graduations 24 to indicate load weight and/ or load travel.

Diametrically opposed portions 35 and 36 of flange 32 are thickened, asshovm in several views, and are provided with blind openings 37 and 33,respectively. These openings extend inwardly from the periphery of theange. As in the case of openings 20 and 21, openings 37 and 38 arepreferably circular in transverse conguration but may be of any otherdesired conguration. It will be observed from an examination of FIG. 3that openings 37 and 38 are adapted to be aligned with openings 20 and21, respectively.

A helical compression spring 40 is interposed between and bears againsthousing lower wali 11 and backing plate 30.

A load-carrying Luiit 41 (FIG. l) includes a threaded upper rod 42,which extends through backing plate opening 31 and which has a head 43that bears against the upper surface of the backing plate. Theload-carrying unit also includes a threaded lower rod 44 and aturnbuckle 45 which engages the lower end portion of rod 42 and theupper end portion of rod 44. Rod 44 is adapted to be connected to apiping or other load (not shown). The turnbuckle serves as a means forvarying the eiected length of the load-carrying unit.

The device is equipped with a pair of connectors 46 for releasablycoupling backing plate 30 to the housing whereby to maintain the backingplate in a predetermined position with respect to the housing againstthe action of spring 4t). Each connector 46 is in the form of a pinconsisting of a rectilinear shank 47 and a head 48. Each shank 47 issmaller in cross section than the transverse area of correspondingopenings 20, 21, 37 and 33.

It will be noted from an examination of FIGS. 2 through that one ofconnectors 46 extends through opening20 inV housing side wall 16 andprojects into opening 37 of plate member 30 and the other connectorextends through openipg 21 in housing side wall 17 and projects intoopening 38 of the plate member. Inasmuch as the Shanks of the connectorsare smaller than the corresponding openings in the housing and in theplate member, the connectors may he readily inserted in or removed fromtheir openings when the parts of the device are substantially properlyaligned, as illustrated in FIG. 3, by hand and without the use of tools.

In practice, the device is assembled and, at any time prior toinstallation, the parts are disposed in cold load position, as shown inFIG. 1. exerting a pulling action on load-carrying unit 41, thereby Thisis accomplished Aby moving backing plate 30 downwardly against theaction of spring 40 until openings 2t) and 21 are respectively inalignment with openings 37 and 38 (FIG. 3) at which time connectors 46are inserted into the corresponding openings,

The device is installed by connecting eye bolt 25 to an overheadsupport, such as a beam (not shown), and by connecting rod 44 of theload-carried unit to a piping load (also not shown). Connector pins 46indicate visually whether the loading on the device is in balance orwhether the device is overloaded or underloaded. When the loading is inbalance, the pins assume a substantially horizontal position, as shownin FIG. 3. When the load is oversupported, the pins assume the relativeposition shown in FIG. 4 and are tilted in corresponding dovmward andoutward directions. Such tilting serves as a visual indication that theload is oversupported and that the device is underloaded.

When the load is undersupported, the pins assume the relative positionshown in FIG. 5 and are tilted in corresponding upward and outwarddirections, thereby indicating visually that the device is overloaded.

When the parts are in the relative position shown in either of FIGS. 4and 5, they may be relatively adjusted by turning turnbuckle 45 tothereby decreaseor increase the effective length of the load-carryingunit and move backing plate 30 until the parts are in the relativeposition shown in FIG. 3. With the parts in this position, connectorpins 46 may be readily withdrawn by hand. This completes theinstallation and the device affords a yielding support to the load.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the objects, advantages,construction and operation of my present invention will be readilycomprehended by persons skilled in the art without further description.Although the invention has been herein shown and described in a simpleand practicablel form, it is recognized that certain parts thereof arerepresentative of other parts which may be used in substantially thesame manner to accomplish substantially the same results. Therefore, itis to he understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exactdetails described herein, but is to be accorded the full scope andprotection of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a spring support device, a housing comprising a lower wall, anupper wall spaced from the lower wall and Side wall means connected tothe lower and upper walls, said side wall means having at least onethrough opening formed therein, a backing plate within the housing andmovable in thespace between the lower and upper walls, said backingplate having at least one opening formed therein, compression springmeans within the housing and bearing against the lower wall and thebacking plate, a load-carrying unit connected to the hacking plate andextending through the spring means and through an aperture in the lowerWall, and a removable connector including a substantially rectilinearshank which extends through the opening in the side Wall means andprojects into the opening in the backing plate, the` cross sectionalareaof the shank being sufficiently smaller lthan the transverse area ofeither of said openings to perwalls, said side wall means having atleast one through` opening formed therein, a backing plate within thehousing and movable in the space between the lower and upper walls, saidbacking plate having at least one blind openingextending inwardly fromits periphery, compression spring means within the housing and bearingagainst the lower wall and the backing plate, a load-carrying unitconnected to the backing plate and extending through the spring meansand through an aperture in the lower wall, and a removable connectorincluding a substantially rectilinear shank which extends through theopening in the side wall means and projects into the opening in thebacking plate, the cross sectional area of the shank being sucientlysmaller than the transverse area of either of said openings to permittilting of the connector depending on the loading on the compressionspring.

4. A spring support device according to claim 3 wherein the shank issubstantially longer than the distance from the outer end of the throughopening to the inner end of the blind opening whereby a substantialportion of the shank is positioned exterior of the housing.

5. A spring support device according to claim 3 wherein the connectoralso includes a head at one end of the shank and positioned exterior ofthe housing side wall means, and wherein the shank is substantiallylonger than the distances from the outer end of the through opening tothe inner end of the blind Opening, whereby the head of the connector isspaced from the outer surface ofthe housing.

6. In a spring support device, a housing comprising a lower wall, anupper wall -spaced from the lower wall and side wall means connected tothe lower and upper walls, said side Wall means having a pair of throughopenings formed therein, said openings being angular-ly spaced about avertical axis through the center of the lower wall, a backing platewithin the housing and movable in the space between the lower and upperwalls, compression spring means within the housing and bearing againstthe lower wall and the backing plate, said backing plate being generallyparallel to the lower wall and having a pair of spaced blind openingsextending inwardly from its periphery, each blind opening being ingeneral alignment with a corresponding through opening, a pair ofremovable connectors, each connector including a -substantiallyrectilinear shank which extends through a through opening and projectsinto a corresponding blind opening, the cross sectional area of theshank of each connector being sutliciently smaller than the transversearea of the corresponding through opening and of the corresponding blindopening to permit tilting of the connectors depending on the loading onthe compression spring, and a load-carrying unit connected to thebacking plate and extending through the spring means and through anaperture inthe lower wall.

7. A spring support device according to claim 6 wherein said throughopenings are substantially coaxial and equidistant from the lower Wall.

8. A spring support device according to claim 6 wherein each shank islsubstantially longer than the distance from the outer end of thecorresponding through opening and the inner end of the correspondingblind opening whereby a substantial portion of each shank is positionedexterior of the housing.

9. A spring support device according to claim 6 wherein each connectoralso includes a head at one end of the shank and positioned exterior ofthe housing side wall means, and wherein each shank is substantiallylonger than the distance from the outer end of the corresponding throughopening and the inner end of the corresponding blind opening wherebyeach head is spaced from the outer surface of the housing.

l0. A spring support device according to claim 6 wherein said throughopenings are substantially coaxial and equi-distant from the lower wall,wherein each connector also includes a head at one end of the shank andpositioned exterior of the housing side wall means, and wherein eachshank is substantially longer than the distance from the outer end ofthe corresponding through opening and the inner end of the correspondingblind opening whereby each head is spaced from the outer surface of thehousing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,397,094 Donkersley et al. Mar. 26, 1946 2,713,982 Sherbrooke July 26,1955 3,000,600 Suozzo Sept. 19, 1961

1. IN A SPRING SUPPORT DEVICE, A HOUSING COMPRISING A LOWER WALL, ANUPPER WALL SPACED FROM THE LOWER WALL AND SIDE WALL MEANS CONNECTED TOTHE LOWER AND UPPER WALLS, SAID SIDE WALL MEANS HAVING AT LEAST ONETHROUGH OPENING FORMED THEREIN, A BACKING PLATE WITHIN THE HOUSING ANDMOVABLE IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE LOWER AND UPPER WALLS, SAID BACKINGPLATE HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING FORMED THEREIN, COMPRESSION SPRINGMEANS WITHIN THE HOUSING AND BEARING AGAINST THE LOWER WALL AND THEBACKING PLATE, A LOAD-CARRYING UNIT CONNECTED TO THE BACKING PLATE ANDEXTENDING THROUGH THE SPRING MEANS AND THROUGH AN APERTURE IN THE LOWERWALL, AND A REMOVABLE CONNECTOR INCLUDING A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTILINEARSHANK WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH THE OPENING IN THE SIDE WALL MEANS ANDPROJECTS INTO THE OPENING IN THE BACKING PLATE, THE CROSS SECTIONAL AREAOF THE SHANK BEING SUFFICIENTLY SMALLER THAN THE TRANSVERSE AREA OFEITHER OF SAID OPENINGS TO PERMIT TILTING OF THE CONNECTOR DEPENDING ONTHE LOADING ON THE COMPRESSION SPRING.